We’re delighted to announce the appointment of our new performance and development coaching team for the 2022-23 season to support delivery of our THC vision to “provide a positive hockey experience for all in a safe, welcoming and supportive environment to enable everyone to fulfil their hockey potential and lifelong love of the sport”.

Our 2021-22 focus was on putting in place a number of key strategic ‘off pitch’ building blocks for THC. We gained ClubMark re-accreditation, became one of the first 37 club’s in the country to be selected as an England Hockey Talent Centre (EH’s new kitemark accreditation for club’s junior development programme for a club’s own players) and most recently have been confirmed as one of 17 Talent Academy Clubs delivering a new club based more intensive EH talent development pathway for 15 – 18 year olds (replacing EH Performance Centres) with more contact time.

In 2022-23 will be focusing on making it all happen on the pitches for player at all levels, ages and abilities from the National League to our youngest cubs and everything in-between! Now established in the National League Conference, we are confident that both 1s teams have the potential grow, continue to improve and challenge for promotion.

With the new EH Talent Framework in place and our commitment to continue to grow and develop the club we have reviewed our coaching structures and team and are pleased to announce a number of changes for 2022-23 season and new appointments. This also factored in Mark Talbot move South, Paul Lewis (Women’s 2’s Coach) stepping down due to work commitments and the growth of the junior and senior players and teams. The 2022-23 lead performance and development coaching roles are as follows:

• John Bell – Female Development Lead Coach including Women’s 1 Coach (working closely with the 2’s); Coach Development; and overall lead for U14 / U16 coaching programme (Talent Centre) and Lead Coach for our new Hockey Camp Programme. John will also be Head of the (EH) Timperley Talent Academy and lead coach for the Girls programme.

• Albert Marcano – Male Development Lead Coach including Men’s 2 Coach and supporting both 1’s squads including M1 on match days; Men’s Club Coach; U16 Boys Squad Coach, hockey camp Coach and TSC lead coach for AGSB

• Rob Turner – Men’s 1 Coach and will be leading training and continuing to play for the 1’s, Lead Coach for THC Goalkeepers, Lead GK Coach for Hockey Camps. Rob will also take up the role of Lead Coach for the (EH) Timperley Talent Academy for the boys programme.

John brings a wealth of experience to the Club from international player to current Head Coach for England Under 18 Girls and a range of coaching roles over 15 years with England teams including men’s and women’s Under 21’s, National League Teams and a range of clubs and schools. John will be working closely with Jo ‘Woody’ Nicholson who will be continuing as 1’s Manager and the new women’s 2s coach and the female development role will support our #homegrown approach and see more girls progressing to 1 and 2’s level hockey.

Rob expands his role at THC since returning to the club last season, to take on the M1’s coaching in addition to leading our GK coaching. Rob brings his current coaching experience within the England Age Group and EDP squads added to his club coaching experience as head coach at Regional to National Premier League level. Rob and Albert will be working closely together across the Men’s 1’s and 2’s and linking to our #homegrown development pathway.

Albert moves into a broader role and will be focusing on male player development, working alongside John with the females, to continue our #homegrown pipeline of players through to 1’s and 2’s. With the M2’s gaining promotion to NW Premier Division Albert will be focusing on ensuring the 2’s manage the transition and step up to the next level of competitive hockey.

Big thanks to Mark Talbot (Women’s 1s), Paul Lewis (Paul Lewis) and Nick Sutcliffe (Men’s 2’s) for their work and leadership 2021-22 and for their wider contribution and support to the Club and we wish them well for the future.

We’ll be announcing details of the full coaching team over the next few weeks as we put in place the new structure for senior and juniors. This will include Under 14 and U16 Boys and Girls coaching moving to a Monday evening (5.15pm to 6.45pm) and the new (EH) Timperley Talent Academy also on a Monday. Sunday training continues 11.00am to 12.30pm for Cubs to Under 12’s.

Senior training will continue to be run for all teams on Tuesday with Club training from 7pm to 8.15pm and 1’s and 2’s from 8.15pm. Thursday training will continue 8pm to 10pm for the 1’s Performance Squads.

We also have a number of Coach Development opportunities available this season to work across all our groups from the young Blues on a Sunday morning through to the U14 and U16 and the Talent Academy. We’ll be putting out more details and look forward to player, former players, parents coming forward to develop as coaches and be part of the programmes we run.

With the changes and growth of hockey at Timperley we also need to grow our support team from parent and team managers, off pitch support roles, committee roles and joining a range of small working groups to keep all the wheels turning and support us to do even more things to enhance the hockey experience for all at the Club. We will also be launching a new Men’s Development Team (8th team) to play in NW Division 7 for next season. More details will be shared at the (online) Hockey AGM on Monday 6th June – all welcome and details will be sent out this week.

One other change we will be making will be renaming out junior activity to avoid any confusion with the use of the word ‘Academy’ ! We’re finalising options but are likely to re-name our Under 18 (and cubs) activity Timperley Juniors replacing Timperley Hockey Academy. We're currently reviewing junior player numbers and capacity across all groups following the tremendous growth in 2021-22. Membership renewals will go live in early July and anyone interested in joining THC should email timperleyhc@gmail.com for more details.

Pre-season dates will be announced shortly for the Performance Squads who will get back on the pitches in July and Club teams in August including a full range of friendly fixtures for all levels. We plan to launch our new Hockey Camps in this summer too offering more opportunities for your players to hone their skills, enjoy some fun hockey and prepare for the new season.

This has been a long journey for THC that started in 2015 when we made the decision to bring together under one leadership and management structure our men’s women’s and junior hockey and #OneClub was born. We had an ambitious set of plans including bringing National League Hockey to Timperley and growing our juniors (250 currently!) and putting Timperley on the map as a well-respected, sustainable, and progressive hockey club offering hockey for all as part of a welcoming and friendly club environment. We’ve also replaced the green pitch, upgraded our floodlighting and plan to replace the Blue Pitch hopefully in 2023.

These are positive and exciting times for the Club and we are excited to bring John, Albert and Rob together to help us progress and develop even more as a Club.